Line-Cutting Dispute Leads To Fatal Shooting

A dispute over line-cutting at a roadside food stand led to the shooting death of a bystander and the serious injury of another man, Tampa police said.

Police arrested two men in the case Friday, Juan Martinez-Morales, 20, and Leeching-Hong Luberisse, 18. Both were booked into jail Saturday on charges of second-degree murder, attempted murder and being a felon in possession of a firearm, according to Hillsborough County jail records.

It’s unclear who cut in line. But on Aug. 8, Luberisse punched Eriberto Reyes, 27, while waiting at a vendor’s food cart that was set up on Hillsborough Avenue, Tampa police reported. Martinez-Morales then pulled a gun and shot Reyes three times in the abdomen, police said. A stray bullet hit Alquan Garner, 23, who was not involved in the dispute. Garner got in a car and drove off but crashed a short distance away. He was taken to a nearby hospital, where he later died from his wound. Reyes was taken to the same hospital and remained in serious condition.

Police learned where Martinez-Morales and Luberisse were staying last week, and officers staked out their apartment Friday. After Luberisse left, police went in the apartment and found Martinez-Morales. Luberisse was followed from the apartment, pulled over and arrested.

Luberisse and Martinez-Morales were being held without bail. Jail records did not show if they had an attorney.